Synthesis of [(99m)Tc]DTPA-folate and its evaluation as a folate-receptor-targeted radiopharmaceutical

Bioconjug Chem. 2000 Mar-Apr;11(2):253-7. doi: 10.1021/bc9901447.

Abstract

A DTPA-folate conjugate was radiolabeled with (99m)Tc by stannous chloride reduction of [(99m)Tc]sodium pertechnetate in an aqueous solution of DTPA-folate. The radiochemical purity of the product consistently exceeded 97%, as assessed by thin-layer chromatography employing conditions analogous to those for radiochemical quality control of the radiopharmaceutical [(99m)Tc]DTPA. HPLC demonstrated that the radiolabeled product resulted from the intact DTPA-folate conjugate and not unconjugated DTPA. The ability of [(99m)Tc]DTPA-folate to target folate receptors in vivo was assessed in biodistribution studies with athymic mice bearing subcutaneous folate-receptor-positive human KB cell tumors. As an internal control, previously studied [(111)In]DTPA-folate was coinjected with the [(99m)Tc]DTPA-folate, along with varying amounts of DTPA-folate (0.38 mg/kg, 1.6 mg/kg, or 14 mg/kg). At each DTPA-folate dose, [(99m)Tc]DTPA-folate exhibited tumor uptake comparable to that of the coadministered [(111)In]DTPA-folate, with radiotracer levels declining at the higher DTPA-folate doses due to competitive receptor binding of the unlabeled conjugate. Tumor uptake of both tracers was also competitively blocked by preadministered folic acid dihydrate (2.9 mg/kg). Tumor-to-background tissue contrast obtained with [(99m)Tc]DTPA-folate was generally similar to that obtained with [(111)In]DTPA-folate. The (99m)Tc-labeled DTPA-folate conjugate may have utility as a targeted radiopharmaceutical for imaging neoplastic tissues known to overexpress the folate receptor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding, Competitive
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Drug Carriers / pharmacokinetics
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored
  • Folic Acid / chemistry*
  • Folic Acid / pharmacokinetics
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / chemical synthesis
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / pharmacokinetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface*
  • Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate / chemistry*
  • Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate / pharmacokinetics
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Transplantation, Heterologous
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Drug Carriers
  • Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Folic Acid
  • Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate